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OLD MURDER STORIES
EXTRACTED FROM
LAWRENCE COUNTY, OHIO NEWSPAPERS
M - R
Submitted by
Martha J. Martin and
Sharon Kouns
MACK, Wm.
see Levi CANTER
MAINS, John
A boy
of about 17 years of age, was severely stabbed by John
Gillilen, at Petersburg, last Saturday night. The affray was
the result of an old grudge. Gillelen was sitting on a fence,
when Mains was passing by and he accosted Mains with a boast,
that he could whip him. - Mains doubted the truth of the
claim, whereupon Gillelen fearfully assailed him, stabbing him
a great number of times. Two the wounds proved very severe and
probably will result fatally. Seventeen cuts were found in
Mains' coat afterward. Gillelen has not been arrested, he
having made good his escape soon after the affair.
Petersburg* appears to be a great place for
stabbing affrays. It sent a case to the last term of the
Common Pleas Court. A lesson seems necessary to be taught.
*Petersburg is now Coal Grove
Ironton Register, June 11, 1868
MARKINS, Charles
see Lafe LARGE
MASSIE, J.
see Fred MONROE
MASSIE, Neal
SHOOTING AT WATERLOO
The village of Waterloo was the scene of a
shooting affray Monday morning in which it is said Neal Massie
shot Morris Bandy inflicting a severe flesh wound in his left
arm. The trouble it seems, arose over the tenancy of the house
belonging to Bandy, in which Massie lived. Monday Bandy went
to the house and served notice on his tenant to vacate. This
precipitated a quarrel and Massie used his revolver. After the
shooting he fled and has not been apprehended. Complaint, was
made before the Justice of the Peace Boggess (?) of Waterloo,
charging him with shooting with intent to kill, and a warrant
for his arrest was issued by the official.
I.R. Oct. 11, 1900
MASSIE, Pearl
see Fred MONROE
MAYS, Jonathan
see Thornton SAMPSON
IJ Sept 1, 1871
McCALL, Andrew
A DOUBLE MURDER COMMITTED BY A WOMAN NEAR HUNTINGTON, W. VA.,
EARLY THIS MORNING.
A SHANTY BOAT TRAGEDY
Andrew J. McCall and One Daughter are Dead While Two Others
are Probably Fatally Injured - The Woman Captured and Makes a
Partial Confession.
From Monday's Daily.
A
horrible double family murder was committed on a shanty boat
this morning at the mouth of Three Mile, just above
Guyandotte.
The victims are Andy McCall and his
seventeen-year-old daughter, Nettie, who were brained with an
ax, while they slept and another daughter had an arm nearly
cut off but escaped death.
A third
daughter is also reported to have been injured.
The
terrible deed was committed by a woman, a Mrs. Etta Robbins,
who lived on the boat with the McCalls.
Details
of the affair and the motives therefore are not known here at
this writing, but the reporter was given some facts concerning
it today by Charles Bailey a shanty boatman whose boat was
moored close to the McCalls, and who, accompanied Chief Turner
of Huntington and Marshal Seary of Ashland to this city in
search of the murderess.
The woman after committing the deed, took Bailey's
jo-boat and getting two of McCall's younger children in it, a
boy and a girl of 10 to 13 years old, started down the river.
Bailey
says that about 4 o'clock this morning he was aroused by
Delilah McCall, aged 25, who came to his boat with an arm
nearly severed, and told of the terrible deed.
Bailey
returned with her to the boat and looking in saw the bodies of
McCall and his daughter lying in their blood on the floor of
the boat.
He investigated no further but at once went to
Huntington and notified Chief Turner, and accompanied him down
the river in search of the murderess.
They came down on the Chevalier and got off at
Catlettsburg, then came to Ashland, and accompanied by Marshal
Seary, came on to Ironton.
It appeared that the woman after committing the
deed, at once started, with the two children down the river in
a boat.
When the Chevalier reached Ashland and her crew
and passengers reported the murder and the flight of the
woman, parties on the wharf boat remembered having seen a
woman and two children in a boat pass down the river this
morning.
A
telephone message was sent to Will Murdock on the wharf boat
here to notify the officers to look for the boat and intercept
it.
Accordingly Marshal Collier and Officer Brownstead got a skiff
and patrolled the river, but saw nothing of the boat.
The Chevalier, coming along later, reported having
seen nothing of it and it was then assumed that the boat had
either landed between here and Ashland or had gotten past the
city before it was noticed.
Later
Chief Turner and Marshal Seary arrived, accompanied by Bailey,
and learned across the river that the boat had passed here.
Procuring a horse and buggy the chief started down the river
in pursuit, Bailey and Marshal Seary going in a skiff.
The result of his trip is not leaned at this
writing.
A VERSION FROM HUNTINGTON
This
afternoon a dispatch to the REPUBLICAN from the Huntington
HERALD gives the name of the murdered man as A. J. Call,
instead of McCall, and says that he "and his daughter Nettie
were killed and his daughters Delilah and Grace badly, the
former fatally wounded. Etta Robbins, a notorious woman, says
she killed Call, but denies killing or wounding the women."
The
telegram would indicate that the murderess had been captured
above here, and parties down on the steamer Ida Smith report
that she was captured; but if so, Chief Turner and Bailey
evidently do not know it as they went on down the river,
following the boat supposed to contain the murderess.
Still
later this afternoon it is reported positively that the
murderess was captured above, and she and her victims were all
taken to Huntington.
Jealousy is reported motive for the crime.
A SHANTY BOAT TRAGEDY
The Murderess in Jail.
The Terrible Scene on the Boat.
Etta Robbins, the woman who committed the horrible
butchery on a shanty boat above Huntington yesterday morning
was arrested during the day right at the scene of the crime.
Chief Turner and his companions who were here
yesterday searching for the woman, went as far as Greenup
before learning of her arrest at the scene, to which she
evidently soon returned.
A Huntington HERALD reporter who visited the boat
describes the terrible scene there as follows:
As we entered, there lay on a bundle of straw upon
a rickety bedstead in the corner of the boat a young woman,
twenty-five years old, with a ghastly wound in the back of her
neck, another in her shoulder and a third on her back. She was
almost speechless so we passed through the partition door and
there in a half nude state lay another young woman, 19 years
old, on her back, cold in death, with her head almost severed
from her shoulders, by a tremendous lick which had been struck
from behind. Besides her at right angles lay the dead body of
a man said to be forty-six years old, with his legs thrown
across the body of the young woman, with a terrible gash in
his shoulder, another in his neck, and the body was otherwise
mutilated.
Setting in the front end of the boat was a woman,
Etta Robbins, sewing with a needle and thread on an old dress
skirt, while huddled around the room were three small
children, and in one corner was a girl twelve years old with a
fearful gash on her right shoulder, which showed that she too
had been in the fearful game of destruction. Picking out the
woman sewing at the skirt, as the one most likely to give
particulars of the terrible tragedy, the HERALD approached her
and asked. What does this mean? Who did all this, and why was
it done?
To our surprise, and astonishment, the woman,
without the slightest change in her countenance said: "I
killed the man, but don't know who killed the woman."
The woman then told that she was awakened by Call
who pulled her out of bed, accused her of trying to betray him
and then got an ax and tried to kill her. In the scuffle she
got hold of the ax and killed him. She would not tell how the
young woman was killed, and others wounded.
Delilah
Call, one of the wounded girls, could give little account of
the tragedy. She saw the woman kill her father, then got into
a struggle with the woman, got the ax and started to leave the
boat, when she was pushed off into the river. She got to shore
and raised an alarm.
The
wholesale murderess is now in jail at Huntington to await a
preliminary hearing. She is described as having been a "holy
terror" before this tragedy.
IWR Jul 25, 1896
McCARTNEY, Mrs.
Murder
IR Aug. 27, 1863
McCLELLAN, James
On
Saturday night week, a man by the name of James McCLELLAN,
living near Centre Furnace, was severely stabbed in the neck,
abdomen and shoulders, and had his head badly bruised with a
club. The persons engaged in the affray were Wm. DOBBINS,
Isaiah SHORT and ---SKAGGS. They had quarreled about a boy
insulting McCLELLAN'S wife. No arrests.
On
Wednesday of last week, Jim STEWART badly cut Sam'l ROSS, in a
quarrel about work. The affair occurred not far from Centre
Furnace.
On last
Saturday, not far from Olive Furnace, Samuel HEDDING ws
fatally stabbed by Thomas SMITH and --- REED, while they were
on a drunk. HEDDING died last Monday morning. SMITH was
arrested.
On last
Saturday, back of Millersport, Sam WHITE shot Joseph WALLS
with a revolver and killed him almost instantly. The parties
were at a shooting match, when they quarreled and got into a
fight. WHITE also shot a man who turned to arrest him, in the
hand. WALLS was shot through the head and back. Two men by the
name of SWARTWOOD and ARMSTRONG were sent to jail by Esq.
BLAKE, on the charge of being accessories. WHITE, the
murderer, is at large.
Last
week, at Hecla Furnace, James HAEBERLIN and --- HARRIS got
into a controversy which resulted in the former stabbing the
latter in the shoulder. Wound is not dangerous.
IR Oct. 6, 1870
McCOY'S,
see Miss NORTHUP
McCOY'S and HATFIELD'S
Ironton Register, Thursday, February 16, 1888
HATFIELD - M'COY WAR
An Awful Crime Graphically Described.
WICKED ATTACK ON THE McCOY CABIN.
The New
York Herald sent a correspondent into the Big Sandy region to
report the Hatfield and McCoy war, but having entered the
Hatfield jurisdiction, he was shot at and had to turn back. He
however writes an account making an entire page of the Herald,
from which we take the following description of the attack on
the McCoy home, which our readers have no doubt been much
interested in, from the account which the Register has given
of the same in a very interesting letter from a valued
correspondent up Big Sandy. The Herald account says:
"It was
New Year's night - a cold, blustery, moonlit night - when the
main body of the Hatfield gang met at Old Ance's house and
marched across the Tug, up Pounding Mill Creek to a little
fork, up that fork and down another to the main Blackberry
Creek, and from there to the house of Randolph McCoy, on the
Blackberry fork of Pond Creek.
"When
the band arrived at the two cabins side by side the lights
were out. Old man McCoy slept in one with his wife, his oldest
son, Calvin, and his tiny nephew. In the connecting cabin
slept his three daughters, Alifair, Adelaide and Fanny, and
their little niece. Alifair was the oldest, a gentle,
religious girl, known all over the country as a nurse who was
always ready to tend the sick and helpless. Her life was
devoted to charitable deeds and missions of tenderness. She
was the guardian of her murdered brother's orphans.
SURROUNDED!
"Surrender!"
It was a hoarse, fierce cry that broke on the night air.
"You'll invade Virginia and kidnap citizens, will you? Come
out and surrender as prisoners of war!"
"There was a terrific chorus ef vella. Calvin McCoy and his
father knew what it meant. The doors were barricaded. Calvin
went up stairs while his father and mother stayed downstairs.
The girls in the next cabin crouched in a corner.
"Come out, ------ ------- you, and yield!"
"A volley of rifle bullets cut through the back and front
doors of the cabin. Calvin knocked out the weather boarding at
either end of the cabin garret and fired with his repeating
rifle, first out of one loophole and then out of the other.
The firing kept up for some time. Then the Hatfields ordered
the McCoys to light up the interior of the cabin. There was no
response. They went to the door of the cabin where the
trembling girls cowered, and ordered them to make a light.
Alifair cried and declared that she had no matches.
"While this was going on, the rest of the Hatfield gang were
piling torches against the cabin occupied by old McCoy, and at
last set it on fire. The old man threw water out and
extinguished it as fast as the fire was relit. Finally the
water was all gone. The flames were beginning to hiss and
crackle around the dry logs.
"Alifair!" cried Calvin, from above, 'go and put that fire out
with milk.'
"Oh Calvin, Calvin! They'll kill me,' pleaded the girl.
"Put it out, Alifair!" shrieked the heroic young fellow as he
fired a shot at a figure skulking below.
"The girl appeared at the door and several rifles were
levelled at her. She advanced.
"Go back, you ------- -- -- -------, or you'll be shot like a
dog.'
PLEADING FOR HER LIFE IN VAIN
"Cap Hatfield and Hence Chambers, I know you,' she cried. "You
won't kill a woman, will you? I have two little orphans to
raise. Cap, I have prayed to God for you and I have prayed for
peace. Don't murder me.'
"No mercy to women!' hissed a voice through the darkness.
'Slay all. She'll be a witness.'
"In the name of our Lord ---------' R r-r-r bang!
"The soft eyed Alifair fell over on the stove with a rifle
bullet through her gentle bosom. Her sisters pulled the dead
girl from the stove which was burning her flesh.
"Oh, my God! Mother, Alifair's shot! Go to her,' screamed
Calvin.
"As the gray haired mother stepped out into the yard to reach
her daughter in the next cabin, she was roughly ordered back
by old Jim Vance. The frantic woman rushed on and was felled
by a blow in the side with a rifle barrel, which fractured two
ribs. Still the old mother crawled on in the light of the
flames almost to the door, inside of which her child lay dead.
There was a man at the door with a cocked pistol.
"You old ------- -- -- -------, I'll kill you, too, if you
don't go back!" he growled.
"Oh, for the sake of Christ let me go to my poor, dear girl! I
don't mean any harm. Let me see my child.'
"A rifle butt crashed on the venerable head and the mother lay
still.
IN THE OTHER CABIN
"The fight in the other cabin was becoming terrific. As the
flames slowly ate away the woodwork below old McCoy crawled up
into the garret with his lion hearted son, and the two half
naked prisoners fought like tigers for their lives. The air
was stifling and they could feel the warm breath of the
flames. Now, the beams began to crack and the smoke poured
into the little coop.
"Father, I'll make a dash. It's our only chance. If I reach
the corn crib alive, I'll be able to protect you with my
rifle.'
"The two shook hands and kissed, never to meet again on earth.
Calvin ran out of the door, and doubling up, raced like a deer
with his rifle in his hand. A stream of bullets followed him.
He had gone thirty yards when a bullet crashed through his
head and he leaped into the air and fell upon his face a
corpse.
"Soon the old man appeared at the door bare-tooted, bareheaded
and in his nightclothes. He discharged both barrels of his
shotgun into the crowd, killing Ellison Mounts and wounding
Jim Vance, French Ellis and two others. As the mutilated gang
scattered the old man escaped into the woods. He crawled up on
a ledge of rocks, and from the shadow peered down at his
burning cabin, half frozen in the bitter winter wind and
writhing with a fear that his little ones would be put to
death before his eyes. He could see the logs that he had piled
together falling apart and the light of the flames sparkling
in the creek beyond.
A HEART RENDERING SIGHT.
"Then came a sight that made his heart stand still almost. The
girls crawled out of the cabin and placed the corpse of gentle
Alifair upon a bed, folding her hands upon her breast and
closing her eyes. Then they helped old Mrs. McCoy to crawl to
the bed and lie down beside her slain daughter. The old man
saw the girls then search for their brother. He did not know
the boy was dead till he heard their heart transfixing cries
when they came upon him. They made a bed for him, too, and the
children lay down under the clothes beside him all night.
"When the neighbors came in the morning they found this
appalling scene. Adelaide was kneeling beside her brother,
with his head in her arms, calling upon him to speak, as she
had called all night. The girl had gone stark mad.
"Old McCoy, meanwhile, was almost dead from cold. He wandered
up the mountain till he found a place where some hogs had
warmed the mire. He stuck his feet deep into the mud and
remained there till daybreak, when he staggered into the cabin
of John Scott, haggard and hollow eyed." ....
Oh, Justice! Hast thou no eye for scenes like these? Are thy
feet gone out of the wilderness forever?
A Hatfield has married a McCoy and the Hatfield and McCoy war
is ended. A kiss and make up is an old saying; but marry and
make up is a great improvement.
IR Mar 26, 1891
Ironton Semi-Weekly Republican, Sept. 25, 1897
- A SUNDAY TRAGEDY -
JOHN FEELY PROBABLY FATALLY SHOT BY ASA HATFIELD
. Feeley the Aggressor, And Shoots First, Wounding Hatfield. -
Then the Latter Empties His Gun at Feeley With Dangerous
Results. - Hatfield Escapes.
A shooting affair which may result in a fatality occurred
about 7:30 o'clock Sunday evening in John Truby's saloon in
the Hotel Denison.
The principals were John Feeley, ex-policeman and ex-mail
carrier, of this city, and Asa Hatfield, of near Williamson,
W. Va., a scion of the noted family of feudal fighters.
The first shot fired was by Feeley, the bullet hitting
Hatfield in the left hand and making a wound which bled
considerably. Hatfield then shot four or five shots in quick
succession, three of the bullets hitting Feeley, and he also
supplemented the shooting by beating Feeley in the head with
his revolver. Feeley was wounded in the right arm, left knee
and left hip.
After the shooting Hatfield walked out through the hotel
office and dining room and into the kitchen where he stopped
and re-loaded his revolver. He is said to have remarked that
he didn't want to shoot Feeley but that the latter shot first.
Hatfield was bareheaded, and went to the rack and got a hat
but it was not his own. He then passed out the kitchen door,
through the rear yard to Vernon street and disappeared.
Feeley, after being shot, walked into the officer where
several parties took hold of him and helped him to a chair. He
was then put on a cot and carried to Dr. Pricer's office,
where examination of his wounds was made.
One bullet was found to have struck the right forearm and
lodged in the elbow joint.
Another had struck his left leg just above the knee and passed
through and out behind and below the knee joint.
The third bullet had penetrated the left hip and though deeply
probed for it could not be found, and the doctor was unable to
determine whether it ranged downward and imbedded itself in
the muscles of the leg, or had penetrated into the abdomen. In
the latter case it is a dangerous and possibly fatal wound.
After some attention at Dr. Pricer's office Feely was taken to
the house of Mrs. Matney on north Third Street, where Dr.
Keller also examined his wounds.
As soon as the police were notified of the shooting, Marshal
Mittlehauser and Officer Wm. George procured a buggy and went
in pursuit of Hatfield, whom it was assumed would make at once
for West Virginia. They went to Ashland and Catlettsburg but
learned nothing of him.
Monday, however, it was learned that Hatfield after leaving
the hotel went up the river and engaged Eli Pyles, a shanty
boatman, whose boat is do not have end.
Ironton Semi-Weekly Republican, Sept. 25, 1897
- A HATFIELD STORY.
PORTSMOUTH THINKS IT HAD A VISIT FROM THE SHOOTIST.
The Portsmouth Times of Tuesday has the following:
"The police were notified this morning that young Anse
Hatfield, who shot and dangerously wounded ex-Policeman John
Feeley at Ironton Sunday night, had been in Portsmouth last
Friday.
It seems that he came in from his mountain home on the N. &
W., at 5:15. He came down town, and finding Lew Baum's saloon
on Front street open, sauntered in. He walked behind the bar
where Baum was counting some change and wanted to know if that
was his day's business. Baum requested him to get on the other
side of the bar and the fellow complied. After taking a drink
he went to the do not have end of article.
Ironton Register, September 25, 1897
SHOT BY A HATFIELD
John
Feeley was shot by Asa Hatfield, a nephew of the famous Cap
Hatfield, last Sunday night. The shooting took place in the
Dennison House bar. Hatfield is a man of 25 or 30, and has
been in town several days. Sunday, he registered at the
Dennison House and took supper. He was quietly disposed, and
played with the children in the hotel office. He encountered
Feeley in the saloon. Witnesses say Feeley was intoxicated and
proposed to arrest Hatfield. The former had served as special
policeman the day before. There was parleying, and revolvers
were drawn. Feeley fired once at Hatfield. Then in rapid
succession, came five shots from Hatfield's weapon. He also
struck Feeley over the head with the empty revolver. He
retreated to the office, reloaded his weapon, discovered he
was shot through the hand, and went out through the kitchen.
Feeley
was found to be wounded in the right elbow, left knee and left
hip. The latter is the worst wound. There are four cuts in the
top of his head. He will probably recover. Hatfield was
pursued by Marshal Mittlehauser and Fire Chief George to
Ashland and Catlettsburg, but he crossed the river here at a
family boat, and stopped that night at a house two miles back
of Ashland. There will probably be no further attempt to
arrest him, for it is the general testimony that Feeley was
the aggressor, and a case against him could not be sustained.
John Truby, who runs the saloon, was fined by the Mayor for
violating the Sunday ordinance.
Ironton Register, Thursday, October 05, 1899 FAMILY
FEUDS
Coal Grove Man Gives Interesting Reminiscences of the Past
The
article in the Register's Budge of Sept. 21, 1899 relating to
the Editor's venture up the Big Sandy brings to the writer's
recollection the experiences of a like venture he had some ten
years ago, and which extended, not only to the "burning
spring" spoken of, but into the very heat of the country once
terrorized and made bloody by "Devil Anse" Hatfield and his
followers and "Ranse" McCoy and his followers. We will say
nothing about rattlesnakes which are very common in that
particular locality. It was in Nov. 1890 that the writer
in-company with his father and an old Ironton boy who now has
a position in the Ironton P.O., was sent by a Philadelphia
firm, to survey a large tract of timber and mineral land in
Pike County.
We
boarded the "Chattaroi" train at Ashland in the morning and at
about 2 p.m., we landed at Peach Orchard, where, after a late
but much relished dinner, such as one gets up there, one hard
to beat, we took the "Hack" for Warfield. We had heard much of
the great "burning spring," and the writer and the Ironton boy
had quite a curiosity to see it, so my father, who had seen it
while engaged in making a railroad survey, said he would take
us over after supper. After supper we proceeded to investigate
it and found it just as the Editor described in the REGISTER
of the above named date.
We had
often heard this expression: "Big Sandy against the world" The
prisoners in jail came near getting out, last Saturday. They
had taken down the stove pipe and had nearly completed the
removal of the brick flue, when their designs were discovered
by Deputy Rucker. A few minutes work would have made a hole
big enough to enable them to get into the second story, where
they could jump out the windows or gain access to the hall.
They intended to w____
It was
some two years later while there on a visit that the writer
became acquainted with the McCoys and Hatfields. The latter
are seemingly an agreeable and good natured set, and greet you
with a hand-shake that bears evidence of a whole-souled
individual and creates within you an unmistakable feeling of
welcome. The former are almost of the reverse, sulky, sullen,
and disagreeable generally. The writer's acquaintance with
Ransom (better known as "Ranse") McCoy, who was the leader of
the McCoy faction in the famous feud, came about in a rather
rude and abrupt manner. "Ranse" was the ferry-man at Pikeville
whither he fled for protection from the wrath of the Hatfields.
The ferry-boat was a common Big Sandy push boat, attached to a
wire rope stretched from bank to bank and so contrived that by
the adjustment of a wide board that extended down into the
water the force of the current carried the boat over. I got in
the boat and aimed to get near the side so I could see "Ranse"
operate it when I heard a stern command to get back to the
middle of the boat lest I upset it. Anyone who ever saw a push
boat knows that it would take much more than my puny weight to
upset it, so I concluded that "Ranse" merely wished to show
his authority and not that he had the slightest fear of my
turning the boat over. Besides, the water was not over four
feet deep in the deepest place, so he could not have been
afraid of being drowned. Say I to myself: "Well, old man if
that's the kind of a disposition you have, its a pity the
Hatfields didn't get your scalp." I found out by further
contact with him and through inquiry that was his true
disposition. However I took the command good naturedly and
proceeded to draw him into conversation in order to find out,
if possible, something of his career and conflict with the
Hatfields, and this is what he told me:
"The
trouble began at an election where 'Kentucky Dew' was
plentiful and freely imbibed. My son made the statement that
he was the best man in the 'diggins,' whereupon 'Johnse'
Hatfield disputed it and they came to blows. Hatfield was
getting the worst of it when his brother "Wall" came to his
assistance. My other sons, aged 17 and 14, then took a hand
and wiped the earth up with them. That night the Hatfields and
their sympathizers took my three sons prisoners, carried them
across Tug River, gave them a mock trial in which "Devil Anse"
Hatfield was judge, sentenced them to death and next morning
brought them back to Kentucky, and after tying them to trees
shot them all to death. Then I took my other son and in
company with some friends and relatives, made a raid on the
Hatfields, who, being taken unawares and not congregated
together, fled in all directions. Some time after this, or as
soon as they could get together, the Hatfields and others made
a night attack on my home. My son and I fended it till it took
fire and we were forced to flee or perish in the flames. I got
away with my life but my son was shot and killed about 100
yards from the house, my daughter, Alafair, was also killed,
my wife and grand-daughter were beaten terribly and our home
and its contents entirely destroyed. After this I moved to
Pikeville and expect to live quietly and, if possible, forget
the terrible scenes of that bloody feud."
The
writer has seen the little girl who was beaten and knows that
she is a pitiful sight to behold. He also stood on the ghastly
scaffold where Ellison Mounte paid, with his unprofitable
life, the penalty for killing the daughter, Alafair. Some five
or six of the Hatfield gang were sent to prison for life and
some have never been brought to justice. SUT.
Coal Grove, O., Sept. 25, '98.
Semi-Weekly Republican, February 13, 1912
MCCOY WAS IN THE CITY.
Just
before the Hatfield brothers arrived in the city Thursday, an
Ironton man who is employed in Ashland saw one of the McCoy
brothers who figured in the trouble with the Hatfield brothers
crossing to the Kentucky side of the river on the Ashland
ferry.
That
the coincidence is one worthy of note can be seen at a glance
and it is the opinion of many that the meeting here was for
some adjustment of legal trouble that the factions have been
engaged in for sometime. As the Hatfield's left on the
afternoon car and as McCoy was leaving on the early fer___________
in that case would hardly be right.
Just
what the business in the city was will probably never be
learned but it would have been a hot time in the town if those
individuals would have come together several years ago.
The
trouble between the Hatfield and the McCoy factions has
probably ended for good as neither of the families have
carried it on lately and the readers will remember that some
time ago "Devil Anse" Hatfield was converted and that he is
now preaching the gospel in the wilds of West Virginia.
McDANIELS, Daniel
The
case of the State vs Daniel McDaniels was called Tuesday
afternoon. The defendant was charged with assaulting with
intent to kill, Minnie B. Hayes, at Hanging Rock, last
February. He attacked her with a hatchet; struck her bloody
blows on the head, from which it seemed almost impossible for
her to recover. The only explanation of this awful deed is
that McDaniels said he loved her, and in his desperation,
because she did not return his love, he tried to kill her.
Miss Hayes who is a pleasant looking and modest young lady,
was in court at the opening of the trial. Her head was bound
up and she wore a loose woolen cap. The wounds are not yet
healed, and through the bandage, when she afterwards uncovered
her head for the reporter to see, the blood was still exuding.
Though she is feeling pretty well, she is not yet out of
danger.
Only
three witnesses were examined - Henry Miller, John Caldwell
and Dr. Courtney - when the Prosecutor rested the case. The
evidence seemed to be complete with the three witnesses. Mr.
Hamilton, the counsel for the defendant arose, and said the
defense did not propose to offer any testimony, but to let the
case go to the jury on the testimony of the state. The Court
then charged the jury, who retired and in five minutes
returned, bringing a verdict of assault with intent to kill as
charged.
The
Court said it would pronounce sentence at a future time, and
ordered the prisoner back to jail. The penalty for offenses of
this character, is from one to fifteen years in the
penitentiary. The reason the accused did not plead guilty was
that Miss Hayes might die from the wounds, when a trial for
murder would follow, and his plea of guilty would seriously
complicate the case.
IR Jun 2, 1892
McDANIELS, Daniel (State vs.)
Defendant charged with assaulting with intent to kill, Minnie
B. HAYES, at Hanging Rock last Feb. He attacked her with a
hatchet.. The only explanation of this awful deed is that
McDANELS said he loved her, and in his desperation, because
she did not return his love, he tried to kill her. Miss HAYES
who is a pleasant looking and modest young lady, was in Court
at the opening of the trial. Her head was bound up and she
wore a loose woolen cap. The wounds are not yet healed, and
through the bandages, when she afterwards uncovered her head
for the reporter to see, the blood was still exuding. Though
she is feeling pretty well, she is not yet our of danger.
Only
three witnesses were examined-Henry MILLER, John CALDWELL and
Dr. COURTNEY-when the Prosecutor rested the case. The evidence
seemed to be complete with these three witnesses. Mr.
HAMILTON, the counsel for the defendant arose and said the
defense did not propose to offer any testimony, but to let the
case go to the jury on the testimony of the state. The court
then charged the jury, who retired and in five minutes
returned, bringing a verdict of assault with intent to kill as
charged.
The
Court said it would pronounce sentence at a future time, and
ordered the prisoner back to jail. The penalty for offenses of
this character, is from one to fifteen years in the
penitentiary. The reason the accused did not plead guilty was
that Miss HAYES might die from her wounds, when a trial for
murder would follow, and his plea of guilty would seriously
complicate the case. IR Jun 2, 1892
Front page
CAPTAIN KILLS PHYSICIAN
IRONTON, O., May2-Dr. Warner McKay, a
prominent physician at South Point, was shot and killed a
midnight by Captain John Davis of the
Portsmouth
ferry boat.
Davis
asserted that he was defending the sanctity of his home, as he
had retuned unexpectedly at midnight and found Dr. McKay in
his wife's room.
Davis
fled to
Kentucky
.
San Francisco Call newspaper, May 3,
1907, page 5
McQUIGG, Johnny
see Pressly BARKER
IJ Dec 29, 1869
MITCHELL, Robert
The
trial of Robert MITCHELL, accused of the charge of murder, was
to be called Monday in a court at Rome, GA. Mr. MITCHELL is a
well known Ironton man having been born and raised in this
city. When he grew up to manhood he had earned the reputation
of being a fine musician and took an active part in the old
Silver Cornet band of the early days of Ironton.
Robert
MITCHELL is a son of Mr. & Mrs. Robert MITCHELL Sr. and was
born at their home on north Second street in West Ironton. He
was a model young man and won the heart of Miss Emma WILD, the
daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Peter WILD.
Mrs.
WILD says to Mr. & Mrs. MITCHELL, four children were born, one
boy and three girls. The children grew up and soon possessed
the musical talent of their father. After leaving this city,
Professor MITCHELL and his little family moved to Winchester,
KY, where they resided and were esteemed by all who knew them,
for eleven years. They recently moved to Rome, GA, where the
professor has to face the serious crime of murder today.
Mr.
MITCHELL is a man of about 40? years of age and at the time of
the murder in the southern city, was with his family, an
occupant of a tenement house, living in a third floor flat.
Seemingly, the ladies' toilet room was on the third floor and
the gentlemen's on the second floor. On one occasion Mr.
MITCHELL used the ladies' toilet room instead of going down
stairs, so we are informed, and that this matter originally
started the hard feeling between MITCHELL and SLOPE......
IR Jan. 23, 1908
MONROE, Fred
Charged
with the murder of Pearl MASSIE, daughter of J. MASSIE of the
city, was acquitted . The trail was held at Clarksburg, WV
last week. Dr. O. ELLISON and J. MASSIE, father of the
murdered attended the trial.
MONROE
was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense, the girl's dying
statement, in which she stated that she is to blame and did
not want MONROE prosecuted, being allowed to go to jury.
IR 24 Jan 1903
MOORE, Florence
The
preliminary hearing of Mrs. Elizabeth Pool and daughter, Mrs.
Florence Moore, on the charge of murdering George W. Noble,
will be held in Squire Henry's court Thursday, and a large
number of witnesses are being subpoenaed. The prisoners have
retained Attorney W. D. Corn to defend them. Prosecutor L. R.
Andrews will appear for the state.
Nothing
new has developed in the case, but another clue is being
followed up by parties interested in securing the rewards
offered, and is based on the location of a watch supposed to
have been taken at the time of the murder.
IR Oct. 04, 1900
MURDER AT HUNTINGTON (WV)
The following account of a murder committed in Huntington on
Sunday morning is given in the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune:
"William J. McCaully, who took the leading part in the play,
"A Woman In The Case," was shot and instantly killed in this
city at an early hour this morning by Pearl Newman, a
longshoreman, and, as usual, it was a woman in the case that
led to the murder. McCaully, after the show last night, went
with three of his companions.
"While
they were in a resort, Newman walked in and objected to
McCaully's attention to his inamoratas. Newman hurled a beer
glass at McCaully, who ran. Newman pursued and fired at
McCaully, who fell crying "I am killed." The victim turning
around, walked back into the room, threw himself on the
lounge, and was dead in a couple of minutes. Newman leaped
down the stairway, revolver in hand, and ran toward the Ohio
River. The alarm was immediately given, and soon half a dozen
shots were exchanged. Newman escaped, though and it is the
supposition now that he is hiding in Ohio.
"McCaully's
home is supposed to be in Philadelphia. He is about 36 (or 30)
years of age, was unmarried, and was a young man of fine
appearance."
IR Oct. 11, 1900
MOORE, W.C.
One of
the most sensational occurrences in the history of Ironton was
enacted on South Third street about 2:00 this afternoon.
Ironton
officers attempted to arrest W.C. MOORE, of Green River, KY,
for disorderly conduct, and he resisted. Officers MAYNE and
George used their clubs, and MOORE drew a big 48-calibre Colt
revolver and began shooting.
On
south Third street, between Vernon and Washington, the
officers took refuge behind buildings and telegraph poles and
returned MOORE'S fire but apparently without effect.
Officer
George MAYNE was standing behind the corner of Jones' livery
stable and one of the balls from MOORES' revolver struck him
in the little finger of the right hand, making a wound which
may necessitate the amputation of the first joint. Another
bullet passed through his coat collar, tearing a big hole in
the cloth.
One of the officers, Ed. RAFFERTY was standing behind a
telephone pole, just above Lot HENTHORN'S residence on Third
street, between Vernon and Washington. MOORE opened fire on
him.
Mrs.
Lot HENTHRON and a young lady who was in the house, heard the
shooting. The young lady ran outside to see what occasioned
the fusillade and Mrs. Lot HENTHORN stepped to the south
window of the upper front room of her residence.
When
the young lady returned to the room, Mrs. HENTHRON was lying
unconscious on the floor with the blood streaming from a
bullet wound just below her mouth. A small bullet hole in the
window and a shattered pane, indicated that one of MOORE'S
bullets had gone wild and struck the unfortunate woman.
The young lady gave the alarm and willing hands soon rendered
assistance. Dr. W.F. PRICER was hastily summoned and did all
that medical aid could accomplish to bring the lady to
consciousness but she died in a few minutes.
....MOORE is from Green River, KY. He has been here at
different periods for some time and is rated as a bad
citizen...
Mrs.
HENTHORN was the wife of Mr. Lot HENTHORN, a salesman at
Brumberg's clothing store. She was 30 years of age last March,
and besides her husband, leaves four small children..
The
Register is informed that MOORE has been working at the steel
plant in Ashland, KY and has a wife and four children in that
city. He expressed the deepest regret over the occurrence and
begs that he be protected against any violence on the part of
the citizens of this community....
Funeral
will take place from the Christian church at 2pm Wed. There
will be no viewing of the remains and burial at Woodland
cemetery. Mr. & Mrs. NORRIS, of Columbus are the mother and
father of the deceased and her brothers and sister from that
city are here to witness the last sad rites.
IR Nov. 2, 1899
MORRIS, John
see Thomas RILEY
IJ Mar 8, 1871
MYERS, Jacob
GETS TWENTY YEARS
The
trial of Jacob Meyers, indicted for the murder of his
brother-in-law Orson H. Roy, at Horse Shoe Bend in July last,
and who has already served a part of a life sentence was
called up in Common Pleas Court Monday afternoon.
It will
be remembered that Meyers was convicted of murder in the
second degree at the term of court last fall and sentenced to
the penitentiary for life. A motion for a new trial having
been overruled, the case was carried to the Circuit Court,
which held that Judge Milner had erred in his charge to the
jury and remanded the case back to the Court of Common Pleas
for a new trial.
Monday
morning a special panel of thirty-six jurors and a host of
witnesses reported it being understood that the trial would
begin at 8:30 o'clock. Judge Milner understood that the time
was 1 p.m., and did not arrive until noon.
In the
afternoon preparations were made for opening the case, and one
juror (Amos Bradshaw) had been sworn, when the attorneys for
the state and defense, after a conference, agreed upon a plea
of guilty to manslaughter. Meyers was arraigned, entered a
plea of guilty to this charge and was sentenced to twenty
years in the Ohio penitentiary.
I.R. June 06, 1902
NAGEL, Phillip
The man
to be electrocuted April 15, in the annex of the Ohio
penitentiary, Monday afternoon. Mr. William HUSH and Judge M.R.
EARNHART made a visit and Mr. HUSH stated that NAGEL'S mother
has been acquainted of her son's whereabouts. Efforts will be
made to carry the case to the Circuit Court.
IR 12 Mar 1903
NAGEL, Phillip
Says
the Columbus Citizen: Phillip NAGEL, one of the condemned men
in the annex at the penitentiary is beginning to get worried
about his health. Since he was brought in last December, NAGEL
has taken practically no exercise except an occasional walk
about the yard. These have been but few on account of the
weather and NAGEL is feeling the effects of the enforced
confinement...
IR 19 Mar 1903
NOBLE, Geo. W.
see Ellizabeth POOLE
NORRIS, Mr. & Mrs.
see W.C. MOORE
NORTHUP, Miss
Miss
Northup, the sister of Dr. Northup who was slain by the McCoys,
has faithfully stood by the prosecution in the efforts to
bring her brother's murderers to justice. She attended the
long trial at Portsmouth and the one here. She has not spared
money or time to see that justice is meted out. This course
has not been attended with any undue malignity, but with a
settled and honest purpose to see the right prevail. Miss
Northup lives about five miles from Gallipolis, on the old
homestead far, which she manages and very often makes a hand
in the important duties of the farm. She lives alone and does
her own buying and selling. She is a lady of intelligence and
excellent ideas on affairs of the day.
IR Dec 29, 1887
Edward Gallagher was shot through the
heart and John Oliver was killed by a blow on the head with a
stone, and Henry Ingalls fatally injured at a dance last night
at Ironton, O. The trouble arose over a woman.
Ogden (UT) Standard Examiner December 27,
1890
OLIVER, Wm.
see Isaac DAY
OSBURNE, Sam
see James BAYS
PAIGE, B. R. or "Reynolds Paige"
On
Friday morning of the 17th inst. cas the indictment against
him read, was found dead in his cell in the jail of this
county, having hung himself by means of his handkerchief and a
short piece of rope tied together. He had been in jail for
some weeks, charged with attempting to steal lumber and
shingles and run them off by way of the river. In a letter he
asserted his innocence of any intentions to commit crime, as
he was employed by another whom he supposed to be the owner,
and stated that he was subject to partial derangement at
times, and had made too free use of intoxicating liquors! He
was from somewhere in the East, of respectable connections,
and well educated. His case excites much sympathy.
IR June __, 1853
POOLE, Elizabeth and daughter
TWO WOMEN IN JAIL
Mrs.
Eliza Poole and her daughter, Mrs. Florence Moore, were
arrested at daylight last Saturday at their home on Buffalo
Creek this county, charged with the murder of
George W. Noble on
Saturday evening, September 22.
The
affidavits charging the women with the crime were made in
Squire Henry's court yesterday by Deputy Sheriff J. M. Payne,
who has been working untiringly on the case since the day
after Noble's body was found.
The
prisoners were brought to the city and lodged in jail at noon
today. With them the deputy sheriff brought two revolvers
found at their house, which is about a mile from the scene of
the murder. One of the revolvers had a fleck of blood, or what
resembles blood, upon the barrel, and Mrs. Poole claims it was
in that condition when returned by a party to whom she had
loaned it. A dress, stained about the skirts with a dark
color, supposed to be blood, was also brought in by the
officer.
It is
the opinion of the authorities that the women know something
of the crime, and no effort will be spared to further
investigate the case and arrest the real principles in the
murder.
Mrs.
Poole is a woman about 54 years of age, while her daughter is
a young woman. They lived alone, and it is said that the
neighbors in the vicinity objected to their presence as a
detriment to the moral atmosphere of the community.
IR Oct 4, 1900
PRICE, Perry
see Levi CANTER
PRUITT, Jack
see Frank BLEVINS
RICHARDS, John K.
AN IRONTON LYNCHING. HON. JOHN K. RICHARDS IS INTERVIEWED.
[From the Columbus Press.]
Hon.
John K. Richards, ex-attorney general of Ohio, and prospective
solicitor general of the United States under President
McKinley, confessed yesterday that he was once a member of a
lynching party. However, it was all against his will, and the
pure result of accident. The lynching was that of John
Wagoner, in Ironton, In January, 1882. Mr. Richards had just
retired from the office of prosecuting attorney of Lawrence
county. Wagoner was confined in the jail of the county on the
charge of murdering Dr. Biggs, a chemist for the Aetna Iron
Works. Some time had passed since the crime was committed and
no one expected that violence be attempted.
"He
could not have been convicted of murder in the first degree,"
said Mr. Richards yesterday. "I doubt if anything more than
manslaughter could have been made out of it. Beggs was a
trespasser on the premises of Wagoner and it could probably
have been proved that he was hanging round against the wishes
of Wagoner, trying to entice some of the women from the house.
At least that was what the defense claimed.
"A
double murder had been committed at Ashland, Kentucky, not
more than five miles away. The victims were young girls and
the prosecution had failed to convict. This exasperated the
people of the country on both sides of the river for miles
around. The lynching of Wagoner was one direct result."
On the
night of the lynching Mr. Richards was returning home rather
late - probably as late as 11 o'clock. His way took him past
the jail. As he approached he noticed that the jail door was
open. This puzzled him, but no thought of a lynching came to
his mind until glancing up an alley close by he saw a large
crowd of men, who on closer view, proved to be masked.
Quicker
than it can be told two men stepped up to him and thrusting
revolvers in his face ordered him to accompany them, which he
did, being of an obliging disposition. These men conducted him
some distance from the jail, but still in sight of it, and
kept him under guard. One of them said: "We are going to
succeed in what we are attempting tonight."
"Oh,
you are?" said Mr. Richards. "What are you attempting?"
But no
further conversation could be drawn from them. They evidently
suspected what was a fact, that Mr. Richards was trying to
detect them by their voices.
"It was the finest organized body of men I ever saw, to be
only a mob," said he. "They were perfectly drilled. The leader
was distinguished by a white baton
that he carried. With this he gave signs and conveyed commands
to the members of the band."
Mr.
Richards was of the opinion that they had the keys to the
jail, and was confirmed in the suspicion when he heard noises
as of feet in the jail corridor, and the guards who had him
under control became very nervous and edged off toward the
jail yard, as if anxious to see the prisoner run up. When they
had ambled along as far as the jail yard gate, they became so
interested in the matter as to lose sight of Richard's, and he
walked away and was standing among the lynchers watching the
swinging body of Wagoner on a tree when some of the lynchers
noticed him there, the only one of the forty or fifty who was
not masked. He was at once taken in charge again and conducted
some distance away.
When
they wanted to disperse he was ordered to "go up town." "But I
don't want to go up town," he replied.
"Well,
that makes no difference," said one of them. "You go." And he
went. As soon as the masked men had disappeared, Mr. Richards
walked to the jail yard and ascertained that the man was dead.
Then he visited the jail and found from the sheriff that the
men had called him to the door and seized him. The keys were
demanded but he refused to tell where they were. When the
crowd showed their big guns his wife became alarmed and told
where the keys were and it was soon all over.
The
coroner's jury and the grand jury tried to find something
about the lynching, but failed, and no one was ever punished
for the crime.
Mr.
Richards afterward learned that the mob had guards stationed
at every approach to the square in which the jail was located.
No one was allowed to enter after a given signal. But Mr.
Richards, walking rapidly, was past the guards at one station
before they saw him. One of them went after him, intending to
"slug" him, but saw who it was and came back saying, "I won't
hit that fellow. It's Jack Richards, one of my friends." The
other fellow then started after him Mr. Richards had run into
the main division, and against his will, was decidedly in the
"push."
Laughing over the matter yesterday, he said he had more guns
pushed in his face inside of about fifteen minutes that night
than he ever saw before.
IR Jun 10, 1897
RILEY, Thomas
Arrested at Ashland Furnace, KY Feb 23, for the murder of John
MORRIS near Greenupsburg, KY in fall of 1862...
IJ Mar 8, 1871
ROBBINS, Etta
Andrew McCALL
ROBINSON, Billy
see TOLLIVER
ROSS, Isaac
see John DUTY
ROSS, Sam'l
see James McCLELLAN
ROY, Orson H.
see Jacob MYERS
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